Country Director – India
POSITION SUMMARY
The Country Director has overall responsibility for the development and leadership of Pure Earth’s country program, managing its office, project portfolio, relationships, and day-to-day operations. This is achieved through the development and implementation of a country strategy that is aligned with Pure Earth’s mission, vision, and global strategy. The Country Director drives innovation in programming and ensures that quality and accountability to all stakeholders is achieved. The Country Director connects Pure Earth’s global priorities with country-specific plans. The Country Director speaks on behalf of Pure Earth’s work in the country to government officials, donors, and media; strong communication and representation skills are essential.
Success in this position requires an individual with demonstrated leadership abilities who uses strong communications and interpersonal skills effectively, both internally and externally. The Country Director is expected to develop networks, build partnerships, and grow and diversify funding. S/he is directly responsible for the overall coordination and strategic direction of the country program; supervising and coaching country program staff; leading teams to identify, design and deliver high-quality, impactful programs; ensuring efficient stewardship of resources for results, compliance, and focused, timely reporting; and oversight of financial management and compliance practices.
Reporting to the Vice President of Programs, the Country Director supervises the work of all country program staff, consultants and contractors and is the primary point of contact in-country for Pure Earth colleagues in HQ and in other country programs.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy, Program Quality and Growth
• Develop and implement a country strategy that contextualizes and aligns with Pure Earth’s global strategy.
• Remain well-informed about national and regional issues affecting Pure Earth, its programs, and partners.
• Drive program quality and increase impact through consistent use of rigorous assessment, design, and proposal development and review processes; comprehensive monitoring & evaluation, accountability and learning systems; staff development investments; and partner organization capacity strengthening.
• Cultivate strong relationships with existing and potential donors. Position Pure Earth as a partner of choice for major international donors.
• Identify opportunities for appropriate expansion and growth of programs.
• Pursue new funding and programming opportunities, in close collaboration with the HQ Development team.
Team Leadership & Development
• Lead the country program by maintaining open and professional relations with colleagues, promoting a strong team spirit, and providing guidance, oversight, and resources to enable staff to perform successfully.
• Along with the Programs Director for India, support country program team members to be well positioned as effective partners and recognized by colleagues, management, and Board as trusted, reliable, and active partners in achieving strategic goals and organizational objectives.
• Support and mentor team members to undertake effective, efficient, and compliant implementation of high-quality programs. Provide feedback to staff to encourage optimal performance.
• Oversee comprehensive onboarding for new staff, consultants, and contractors.
• Assess professional development and capacity building needs among staff and provide relevant training opportunities.
• Ensure employment agreements, contracts, timesheets, payment records and tax filings are properly kept, fully supported, updated, and maintained, and readily available for audit.
• Ensure that all personnel practices, contracts, taxes, compensation, registrations, etc. are in accordance with local laws and Pure Earth policies.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting quarterly performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and undertaking documented semi-annual performance reviews.
Financial, Operational & Risk Management
• Oversee program finances to ensure overall fiscal transparency and financial health, including accurate budgets, expenditures to budget and in compliance with procurement policy and procedures; coordination with headquarters financial systems management; and financial reporting that is accurate, timely, and in accordance with globally accepted accounting practices.
• Partner with the Programs Director for India to actively monitoring projects to ensure they are on track with deliverables and targets, on time, and on budget without overspending or underspending and that they fully meet goals as committed in project documents.
• Support the Program Director in early identification and diagnosis of off-track projects and actively determining feasible strategies to correct them.
• Ensure all donor contractual terms and conditions are fulfilled in line with Pure Earth’s policies and procedures.
• Work with the Vice President, Programs to ensure that all project modifications, adjustments, or no-cost extensions are fully justified and appropriately communicated and agreed by donors.
• Assist the HQ Financial Department in the coordination of and response to
• Develop and strengthen robust operations practices based on Pure Earth global policies, local conditions, and Pure Earth’s legal status locally.
• Identify areas of risk and drive compliance with Pure Earth, donor and local government regulations and requirements.
• Ensure appropriate security procedures and awareness are maintained throughout the country program.
Representation, Influence and Partnership
• Develop and carry out strategies that result in strong representation with government officials, bilateral/multilateral institutions and in NGO networks to build the Pure Earth brand and reputation as a reliable partner in the delivery of programs and as a key voice in the toxic pollution space.
• Develop and maintain regular contact with the in-country representatives of relevant donors and funding partners to secure funding for the country program.
• Initiate and sustain strong partnerships with local organizations.
• Raise the profile of the work of Pure Earth and its partners through engagement with diverse forms of media, working closely with the Communications team.
• Participate in drafting peer-reviewed papers and articles.
• Pro-actively coach staff to optimize their caliber and performance.
Program Development and Management
• Ensure that the program activities take place in line with technical best practice.
• Help the programs team provide oversight and deliver high-quality programs and ensure proper monitoring systems are in place.
• Communicate clear expectations with the staff, setting clear expectations and provide timely and constructive performance feedback
Deliverables
• Develop and implement a Country Strategy that contextualizes and aligns with Pure Earth’s global strategy.
• Ensure consistent implementation of program activities.
• Pursue new funding including in-country CSR funds and programming opportunities, in close collaboration with the HQ Development team.
• Ensure all donor contractual terms and conditions are fulfilled in line with Pure Earth’s policies and procedures.
• Develop and carry out strategies that result in strong representation with government officials, bilateral/multilateral institutions and in NGO networks to build the Pure Earth brand and reputation as a reliable partner in the delivery of programs and as a key voice in the toxic pollution space.
• Develop and maintain regular contact with the in-country representatives of relevant donors and funding partners to secure funding for the country
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
• At least 10-15 years of progressively responsible work experience, including leadership at the national level.
• A university degree in a relevant discipline is required.
• Demonstrated successful team leadership and management experience. Receptive and collaborative leadership approach that contributes to a positive team environment, builds, and maintains strong relationships with people from all backgrounds, genders, cultures, and viewpoints.
• Proven leadership delivering appropriate levels of oversight of a portfolio consisting of a variety of donor-funded projects, with extensive experience in strategic planning, resource mobilization, proposal development, management, supervision, and budgeting in a multi-project and multi-donor environment.
• Experience building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organization.
• Extensive representation and fundraising success, including prior experience with European, US and international donors.
• Evidence of understanding the challenges of donor and grant/contract management and the implications for program management.
• Proven ability to negotiate and work with local partner organizations. Experience with organizational capacity strengthening and partnership building.
• Opportunity-awareness: flexible, creative approach to unpredictable programming, operational, and funding contexts.
• Strong budget and fiscal oversight capacities.
• Demonstrated ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality results.
• Experience of working effectively as a team member with colleagues based in multiple locations.
• Ability to effectively represent program context, constraints, and successes to media, government, and other senior audiences.
• Strong oral and communication skills in English; multi-lingual capabilities a plus.
• Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the equal participation of all staff in all areas of work.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally, as needed.
• Ability to work flexible hours or across time zones, as needed.
Please send CV/resume and cover letter to [email protected].
Application Deadline: August 18th, 2023
This job description may be revised and updated as required to meet organizational objectives.